Daisaun Altay Eric Culpepper, 31, of Lexington Park
UPDATE 4/7/2025: State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced today that Daisaun Altay Eric Culpepper, 31, of Lexington Park, Maryland, was sentenced to 27 years in prison, with 15.5 years of active incarceration for the possession of a large amount of fentanyl, destruction of evidence, and a probation violation.
On October 16, 2024, detectives from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office executed a search and seizure warrant at a residence in Lexington Park, as part of an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking activities.
Upon law enforcement arrival, Culpepper fled into a back bedroom and remained there for approximately 40 minutes before surrendering. Inside the residence, detectives uncovered approximately 685 grams of a fentanyl mixture, multiple plastic bags tied off with the drugs, digital scales with drug residue, and more than $6,000 in cash.
Culpepper was arrested on an outstanding violation of probation warrant related to a prior fentanyl distribution conviction. Subsequently, he was charged for possessing large amounts of fentanyl and additional offenses related to the October 16, 2024 incident.
“This case underscores the deadly threat that fentanyl poses to our community,” said State’s Attorney Sterling. “I want to commend the members of the Vice Narcotics Unit for their diligent work in seizing over half of a kilo of fentanyl and preventing its distribution into our community. Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and aggressively prosecute those involved with this poison.”
Members of the Vice Narcotics Unit within the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Investigations Division successfully investigated this case.
Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Lisa Ridge, Chief of the Narcotics Unit, prosecuted the case on behalf of the citizens of St. Mary’s County.
The Honorable Joseph Stanalonis presided over the case.
The operation followed an investigation into suspected drug trafficking activities involving Daisaun Altay Eric Culpepper, 31, of Lexington Park. Law enforcement recovered a significant amount of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), suspected to be a mixture of fentanyl and heroin.
Upon entering the residence, officers observed Culpepper flee into a back bedroom. Despite repeated requests for him to exit, it took approximately 40 minutes before he complied and was taken into custody.
Culpepper was the only individual inside the home at the time of the search. The search of the residence uncovered numerous plastic bags tied off containing the suspected fentanyl-heroin mixture, digital scales with CDS residue, more than $6,000 in cash, and CDS packaging materials.
The suspected drugs were field-tested and weighed, with results confirming a positive match for fentanyl and heroin. In total, approximately 685 grams of the substance were recovered, indicating an intent to distribute, according to court records.
Culpepper was arrested on an outstanding Circuit Court warrant for violation of probation related to a prior CDS distribution charge. He was transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown, where he faces multiple new charges. These charges include:
CDS: Possession with intent to distribute narcotics
CDS: Possession with intent to distribute a dangerous mixture containing heroin and fentanyl
CDS: Possession of a large amount of a controlled dangerous substance
CDS: Possession – not cannabis
According to court documents, if convicted, Culpepper could face significant penalties, including up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $100,000. He remains in custody, awaiting a bond hearing.
Daisaun Altay Eric Culpepper, 31, of Lexington Park
